How to make white seams in brickwork. Masonry mix for bricks How a pedestal makes bricks with white cement

The process of manufacturing decorative masonry from special brands of bricks often faces the problem of inexpressive color solutions. Despite the relatively large number of colors and shades of facing bricks, most often the customer and the contractor argue about the color of the resulting building, one building can have too different shades and colors, even from bricks of the same batch.

What is the purpose of the colored solution?

In addition to the unpleasant effects of lime or salt efflorescence on a red or dark background, the color and shade of the bond seam can radically change the shade, overall impression and perception of colored masonry. Masters involved in decorative masonry know firsthand about the insidious effect of darkening the original color of the wall. The juicy fiery red or beige color of the brick, upon completion of the masonry, acquired a grayish tint.

The reason is the gray or dark gray color of the brickwork seam. Approximately 15% of the surface of a brick wall is occupied by the surface of the seam, gray and featureless. The bright shade of the finished building can darken even 3% of the street dust that has settled on the brick, and 15% of the gray seam can completely spoil the appearance of the building.

To prevent the loss of shades by experienced craftsmen, some measures are taken in advance:

  • The inter-brick seam is rubbed with grout mixtures of various colors and compositions;
  • A brick wall is painted with special colored compounds that show color and, often, give the brick texture water-repellent properties that prevent efflorescence and discoloration;
  • They use a colored mortar for laying bricks, after jointing and contouring the seam, the necessary color and shade of the entire brick building is achieved.

Note ! Despite the fact that there are only five basic pigments for obtaining a color binder, in practice, using additives in mortar for laying bricks, it is possible to obtain about 30 individual colors and shades.

Using the possibilities of colored solutions

The ability to manipulate the color characteristics of brickwork or even individual sections of the wall makes it possible to professionally emphasize the beauty of the texture of the material, especially in the rays of the setting or rising sun.

In what cases it is preferable to change the color of the seam

By choosing the color of the seam, it can be highlighted with maximum contrast, strength, or, conversely, merge into one color with a brick. In both cases, the effect is achieved by using special mineral paints and a couple of compounds that prevent the loss of astringent properties and protect the coloring pigment from destruction and leaching.

Contrast is a universal way to emphasize the expressiveness of masonry

The champion in terms of efficiency and expressiveness has always been, and will remain, white mortar for laying bricks. In combination with any, except for yellow, shades and colors, it allows you to visually make laying on a colored mortar light and bright. The question of how to make a white mortar for laying bricks always rests on the economic feasibility of such an undertaking.

The white color of the masonry seam can be obtained:

  • addition of excess slaked lime;
  • zinc oxide;
  • titanium oxide.

The latter compound gives exceptionally high-quality white color, resistant to oxidation for ten years. White lead additives were previously used, but due to the toxicity of lead, its use has long been abandoned.

The high cost of titanium salts often makes you go for a trick. To obtain a colored seam, two different types of mortar are actually used. The first is the usual one based on a cement-sand mixture. The second - a colored, white composition is kneaded on the basis of white cement M-500 with the addition of a coloring pigment. Bricklaying is carried out using both mortars. The first composition fills the entire area for laying bricks, not reaching the outer edge of the wall 2-3 cm. The space left for the outer part of the seam is carefully filled with a colored - white solution.

In addition to excellent frost resistance, white cement has a dense structure and retains moisture very well, which prevents the penetration of part of the salts of the usual solution onto the wall surface in the form of stains and efflorescence.

The use of colored solutions for masking masonry joints

In addition to contrasting the line of bricklaying, a colored binder can be used to completely hide the structure of the wall. At the same time, the mortar joint itself has an absolute match in color with the color of the facing brick. When cleaning the seam, it is aligned flush with the bricks and, after drying, even repeats its texture. The wall may look like a monolith or have a completely different pattern, a larger grid of blocks of several bricks, or a specifically contoured and shaded.

And often this is not a whim of the artistic fantasies of the owner of the house. Experts recommend a similar technique to increase the thermal insulation characteristics of the walls. In addition, the main problems of cracking beautiful ceramic bricks are associated with the intensive absorption of moisture by the masonry through the mortar joint recessed into the wall.

The leveling technique is spectacular, but it requires considerable effort and knowledge in the exact selection of the composition of the color binder. As the color dries, the seam lightens. Moreover, under the influence of the sun and rain moisture, part of the coloring pigment may fade, due to which a thin, but clearly visible from a distance, mesh of the seam appears against the background of the wall.

The specifics of the preparation of colored solutions

For the manufacture of juicy and bright colors, metal salts are most often used - iron, nickel, chromium, cobalt, copper. They are stable and resistant to heat and low temperatures. In addition to the coloring pigment, it is important to choose the right carrier base for the color mixture, usually white cement for bright colors or Portland slag cement for dark, almost black, colors. The most durable brands have a pronounced dark, almost black color, which helps to get a black mortar for bricklaying.

Previously, carbon black additives were used for black or very dark colored compositions, but, as it turned out, amorphous carbon greatly reduces the strength of the solidified solution due to poor wetting, now carbon black has been replaced with complex iron salts.

Let's prepare a color solution with our own hands

The main difficulty in preparing a color solution is the exact dosage of the dye into the mother white or gray solution. Often, the color solution acquires its true shade only after prolonged mixing and complete dissolution of the dye. Therefore, before mixing the main portion of the color solution, several test mixtures are performed with different amounts of dye and water. The pigment itself must first be dissolved in warm water, with a little settling of undissolved grains of the dye.

Next, a dye solution, half of the cement and a third of the amount of sand are poured into a mixer or hand mixer in small portions. As the solution is beaten and mixed, the remainder of the cement and sand is added. Usually, the total amount of pigment put into the solution is not recommended for more than a tenth of the M100 solution and 1/12 for M75-M45.

Advice ! If you need a complex shade of a color solution, it is better to use a branded color solution, your own experiments will often require a large number of experiments and test batches, which will cost many times more.

Innovations in the use of colored masonry mortars

The desire to give the walls of the house a refined and slightly pretentious look pushes the masters to unusual solutions in the use of colored solutions. A small addition of finely ground glass powder with a fluorescent component makes the seam grid glow against a dark brick background for several hours after sunset.

Another unusual application is the grouting of colored mortar with a mixture that changes color depending on the ambient temperature. Thus, as the brick wall warms up or cools down, it can change its shade and texture pattern.

Such things can be called eccentricity, but practice shows that there are enough fans to decorate their homes in the most unusual way, which means that there are always a couple of fresh offers for demand.

Conclusion

The reliability of the quality of coloring pigments is also important. Most of the color components and pigments sold, even in wholesale transactions, are fake, this must be understood and be prepared for a thorough analysis and comparison of the purchased goods.

Non-ferrous metal salts are quite expensive raw materials, and in fakes they are often replaced with aniline water-soluble dyes. Most often, the stability of color solutions suffers. After a season or two, the dyes fade or are washed out by rain moisture. In this case, it is necessary to treat the seams with a weakly acidic solution and grout with a new grout or repaint the entire wall.

Sometimes experts advise testing a sample of a dry mixture of a colored solution by heating it over an open fire to a temperature of 250 ° C; theoretically, a high-quality mixture should not discolor, a fake will lose its color. But practical methods of such verification are not yet available.

A solution of various colors for facing a brick wall is the latest development offered on the construction market, which is very popular. What is the secret of this solution and how to use it will tell the article.

Colored material for brickwork is a unique building material used in the decoration of the facades of brick buildings. The color of the solution can be matched to the tone of the facing material.

It gives originality to the whole building and distinguishes it from other houses by the fact that no seams are visible on it at all.

Mortars are a special fine-grained mixture consisting of pure water, inorganic substances and special fine aggregates. This material is used in the process of repair, internal and external finishing works during the laying of brick walls.

Mortars are divided into several main types:

  • air - the main components are fine special aggregate and a special binder air mixture;
  • waterproofing - white cement with an admixture of ferric chloride, ceresite and sodium aluminate;
  • ceresite - a white solution, which contains ammonia, lime and amyl acid;
  • masonry - consist of either cement with lime or cement with clay;
  • acoustic - incorporate gypsum, white cement, lime and fine aggregate.

The main component of the masonry colored mortar is white cement, to which various mineral dyes are added in a certain amount, due to the saturation of the desired color.

The proportion of dye in the mixture can be 1-8%. A higher percentage content is not recommended. Also among the components of the solution are polymer additives that provide stability, resistance to moisture absorption and strength of the composition, washed sand and persistent chemical mineral pigments that prevent the formation of efflorescence on the wall surface.

Sometimes, in order to improve the formulation of the color mixture, manufacturers add various additional components to their composition, which increase the adhesive characteristics of the building composition, its plasticity and durability, giving it good moisture retention properties and reducing the consumption rate.
material. White cement in the composition of the solution helps to achieve a pure color.

The range of application of the composition in construction is quite wide: finishing internal and external walls with the help of facing material, plastering surfaces, finishing fireplaces. The use of color composition gives a special charm to the whole house and the room inside.

The strength of the masonry is created due to the durability of the components of its masonry elements, including the strength of the masonry composition.

Mortar Benefits

Like any other material, painted masonry mortar has its advantages over concrete:

  • dries quickly enough - within 3 hours;
  • the color and concentration of the solution can be chosen as desired;
  • the surface of the solution is not covered with efflorescence;
  • affordable price.

Also, this solution has several positive properties:

  • after complete drying, the colored material has good strength, and well protects the wall from all kinds of damage;
  • the seams look very neat, minor wall defects are smoothed out, the surface takes on a finished look;
  • this masonry has durability, since the colored building material is characterized by high bonding strength with brick;
  • the solution is not afraid of moisture and frost;
  • is an environmentally friendly building material;
  • does not fade in the sun;
  • does not leave marks after contact with the surface of the finishing material (if removed in time).

Special manufacturing technology greatly facilitates construction work:

  • in one working cycle, you can perform both masonry and joint grout;
  • high plasticity of the building material provides a fairly easy and fast masonry process;
  • during laying, the brick does not need pre-wetting, due to the high humidity of the solution;
  • durable masonry without cracks is ensured as a result of strong adhesion to the stone;
  • the right color of masonry mortar and grout helps to avoid unpleasant surprises in the form of fading, wetting and leaching, ensuring durability and external beauty throughout the house.

How to choose

When choosing a color mixture for a masonry color mortar, it is very important to pay attention to certain nuances that will help you acquire high-quality material and avoid many troubles.

During the acquisition of building materials, it is worth paying attention to the degree of moisture absorption of the brick. Different types of bricks differ in this indicator, which varies from 2% to 15%.


Fresh masonry from different types of brick absorbs water in different ways.
In the event that the mortar acquires strength too slowly or too quickly, then the properties of the masonry deteriorate significantly. To prevent this from happening, the construction market offers masonry mortars with different moisture retention rates: low - 5-6% range, medium - 7-10%, high - 10-15%. The compositions of the first group are well suited for clinker bricks, the second - used when working with facing bricks, the third - for silicate bricks. Some companies also produce a color composition for summer and winter masonry.

When choosing a color masonry mixture, you need to decide on the desired color. Domestic companies offer a large selection of shades (about 35 colors). Foreign manufacturers produce about 50 colors. Sometimes, when ordering, the company can create an individual shade that is not in the catalog, especially for the customer.

The most popular shades of solutions are: white, beige, yellow, brown in various shades, terracotta, red, green in light shades, pink, gray and black.

The experience of the masters shows that the ocher laying mortar goes well with yellow brick, chocolate - with red, white - with gray. For the correct choice of the color of the solution, it is best to consult a specialist, since the beauty and color of the wall is half dependent on the seams.

There are two ways to choose a color:

  1. Determine the shade based on the color of the brick. In this case, the seams will be invisible, and the wall itself will look monolithic.
  2. It's great to play in contrast. In this situation, there is a great opportunity to express the texture and color of the material, to create harmony in the color of wall and door cladding, to finish any architectural elements and roofing.

The thickness and type of the masonry joint also affect the choice of shade, as occupying 15-20% of the area of ​​the entire wall, the joints can completely change the appearance of the house.

A multi-colored masonry compound may have the "Versatility" characteristic, which is an indication that this compound can be used for interior and exterior for all types of bricks, artificial stone, etc.

How to cook

It is not at all difficult to prepare a laying mortar, but the process has some nuances, so you need to carefully read the instructions before work.

For better mixing, you can use a conventional concrete mixer. If she's not there
you can prepare the solution manually or using an electric drill with a special whisk attachment. To mix the material, pour clean water into a container (per 1 kg of the mixture 120-250 ml), add the powder and mix well until the consistency of sour cream. Now it should be left to rest for 5-7 minutes, so that all color additives dissolve well and mix again. Now you can get to work.

Do not forget that in the cold season, the dry mixture must be diluted with warm water, and also that the composition hardens rather quickly (about 3 hours). When the composition begins to lose plasticity and solidify, it is absolutely impossible to add water to the composition. The only way to revive the material is by mixing. After 3 hours, the solution cannot be used.

When the next portion of the masonry mortar is needed, the mixture must be diluted in the same proportions, otherwise the color of the mortar will not match.

When using a multi-colored masonry mortar for the first time, experts advise applying it to an inconspicuous area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe masonry in order to determine the color and its saturation. If you do not like the shade, you can add water or a dry mixture. The proportions of water must be strictly observed: if the solution is too dry, it will crack, and if it is very liquid, it will be squeezed out of the seams.

Without a doubt, such a composition can be prepared independently by mixing white cement and the desired dye. But, due to the fact that a lot of masonry mortar is required, it is very difficult to choose exactly the same shade in a new batch. Therefore, it is better not to take risks and use a ready-made mixture.

The prepared masonry composition must be used immediately. It is applied in an even layer on the entire surface of the brick block, making sure that gaps and voids do not form.

How to lay facing brick

After the erection of the walls and their insulation, you can start laying the facing bricks. The mortar should be applied in a small layer 1.5-2 cm thick, not reaching the edge of about 1 cm. When using this type of mortar, it is necessary that the thickness of the joints be the same. For this, a square rail with a side of 8 mm and a length of 1 m is used. With the help of it, a seam gap is laid on the brick, then a row of bricks is laid, according to the size of the rail. For vertical seams, you can use another rail of shorter length.

Facing is better to start from the corner, 5-6 rows high, and already equalize the rest of the bricks along them. During masonry, immediately remove the protruding mortar from the surface.

The color composition is applied to the brick block using a special steel spatula, taking into account the thickness of the seam of 10-20 mm. Masonry is carried out along a full seam with further processing of this surface with a special stitching tool. On the front side, the seams are processed directly during masonry work. If a light-colored solution is used, then to prevent the solution from oxidizing from interaction with the metal, it is best to use a special wooden or plastic embroidery tool.

The use of modern colored masonry mortars will give the house a certain uniqueness and charm and increase its durability.

White seams on a red brick wall have an exclusively aesthetic function. This does not affect the quality of the masonry itself in any way, if the proportions of the ingredients in the white masonry mortar are observed. Strengthening the red color due to the proximity to white makes the overall appearance of the wall more contrasting, emphasizes the private structure of each element, the seams are clearer, the overall expressiveness of the structure, and if you want even presentability. Gray cement joints do not give the same effect.

There are three main ways to make seams white in red brick masonry.

  1. The first way is initially, when building a wall, use a white mortar. This method is less time consuming, but also more expensive. Since, compared to ordinary cement, ready-made masonry mixtures of white color are much more expensive. Of course, you can make such a solution yourself, but it is quite difficult to strike a balance between strength and whiteness. The fact is that the white color of the solution is given by slaked lime, which is part of its composition, an excessive amount of which can weaken the binding qualities of the solution. Along with lime, the white solution includes white sand (which, by the way, is also not found in a quarry near the river, but you have to buy it) and ordinary gray cement. You won't achieve exceptional whiteness anyway.

  2. The second way is to lay on ordinary gray concrete, leaving room for the grout, and grout with white finishing mixes for the joints. This option, in my opinion, is more economical, although more troublesome.
  3. The third way is a combination of solutions. Two mixtures are made. One ordinary gray cement and sand. The second is white cement grade M500 and with the addition of a dye. The purest white color is given by the addition of titanium oxide. These mixtures are applied in parallel during the masonry process. The main seam (internal) is made from a solution of gray cement and sand. Having laid several rows, we immediately stretch the seams with white cement with a dye. Both grades of grout, while wet, will set very well, and such adhesion will allow the seams to be white and not spill out for decades.
  4. Well, the fourth way is to simply paint over the gray cement seams with ordinary weatherproof paint. Enough for a couple of years, but quickly and cheaply.

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There are 2 grouting methods:

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Basic Methods

Masonry mortar is a mixture of building components and water. As a rule, it is gray in color. Accordingly, to get a colored or white seam, you can go in two ways:

  1. Color the solution itself in different ways.
  2. Use colored grout for seams.

Both methods have their own characteristics that must be taken into account when making a decision.

Mortar coloring

This method is good in that it reduces the complexity of the work - a white seam in the brickwork is obtained directly during the construction of the facing structure.

In order for the cement mortar to turn white, it is necessary to add coloring components to it. They may be:

  • slaked lime, which, as you know, increases the plasticity of the solution and improves its performance properties;
  • colored masonry colors are one way to give the cement mortar any shade. The point is that expectations may not be met - strict adherence to the proportions of the preparation of the mixture is required, the best effect is achieved when using special white cement, against which the color will be most visible;
  • titanium oxide is a universal bleach that can perfectly lighten the cement mass.

The listed components will help to make a white seam during masonry, which will save time and labor costs, but you will have to pay for it - additives are needed in significant quantities, which increases the cost of the working material.

The best option is to use titanium oxide. This component is not washed out and does not affect the strength of the wall in any way. In addition, you will not have to wait for unpleasant surprises from the solution - delamination, the formation of efflorescence (as when lime is added).

Cooking and laying

To make the masonry mortar white and reduce material consumption, masons use 2 types of working mixture at the same time - classic and colored.

Cement-sand mortar of gray color is prepared according to traditional technology. It is placed on the invisible part of the masonry.

To make a white mixture, you need to prepare:

  1. white cement brand M500 - 1 part;
  2. titanium oxide (white) - no more than 10% of the amount of cement;
  3. sand - 3 parts;
  4. water as needed.

The dye is dissolved in water and sand is mixed with cement, or the dry component is mixed with a binder before mixing with liquid.

A house made of red or brown bricks with white joints can be tiled using exclusively white mortar or laid only on the outside of the masonry surface.

Grouting

The essence of this method is the processing of formed gray seams with colored compounds.

Grout Benefits:

  • the possibility of giving the masonry any color;
  • a wide selection of dry color mixes;
  • protection of the seam from an aggressive external environment, waterproofing and strengthening;
  • the seam can be updated, change the color of the grout;
  • the cost of the material is much lower than the coloring of the solution itself.

The disadvantage is the complexity of the work, grouting is carried out separately after the construction of the structure.

You can make a brick seam white or colored using different mixtures:

  • cement-based - the most common, suitable for indoor and outdoor use;
  • on epoxy resin - grout for interior spaces. Such a coating can be washed, cleaned, it is not afraid of water and high humidity.

Cement grouts are sold as a dry mix. It is enough to dilute them with water in the proportion declared on the label to obtain a white or colored solution.

There is another way - the use of color, which is injected into the cement mixture.

How to make grout

A house made of brown bricks with white seams or red masonry cladding with jointing of the same color - there are many options for decorating the facade. But the difference is not only in the chosen color, but also in the shape of the seam created by the bricklayer. It depends on the shape of the tool used for decoration.

For stitching you will need:

  • spatula long;
  • narrow stitching.

Work algorithm:

  1. The masonry is cleaned of dust and other contaminants.
  2. The seams at the place of work are moistened - this will help to achieve high adhesion of the grout and the base.
  3. Prepare the solution according to the instructions. The mixing of the components must be carried out using a metal sieve and a construction mixer.
  4. A mortar is applied to the spatula along the entire length, the tool is pressed tightly against the edge of the lower brick.
  5. Using a joint of the desired shape, push a small amount of grout into the joint and rub in the mixture.

Work should be carried out in sections, timely wetting the surface. It is important to immediately remove excess grout from the brick before it sets.


To paint or not

Dark brick with white seams looks solemn, this is a classic version of the design of the facade. And it doesn't matter if brown or red stone is used - a gray mortar of cement and sand definitely does not decorate the facade.

When choosing a method of staining seams, you should rely on 2 main factors:

  • construction timeline. If they are tight, it is optimal to paint the masonry mortar;
  • financial opportunities. In this case, you should calculate the amount of work on painting and grouting and choose the appropriate option.

It should be noted that mashing will require not only material, but also a labor resource. However, the work can be done independently, without using the services of specialists.

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Facial brickwork remains, in a way, a classic of the genre when facing buildings, despite the fact that today there are more and more new construction technologies and giving a beautiful look to construction objects: siding, various plaster and putty mixtures, aluminum plates, metal profiles and much more. Although brickwork is one of the most expensive types of construction, at the same time it is one of the most durable. Having once invested money in construction, you can save yourself for many decades from having to think about how to preserve the beauty of a building or structure in the event of strong gusty winds, hail, accidental impacts with solid objects and other unforeseen events.
Photo description: brick front masonry on a black seam - white brick on mortar with good quality pigment. The proportion is 0.75 liters of pigment per 1 bucket of M-400 cement and 4 buckets of sand. More than 10 years have passed since the construction.

If you decide that such an expensive cladding of the building will be carried out, then it will not be superfluous to think over the options that will give an elite look to your building. Something as small as the color of a brickwork seam can play a significant role in this regard. Even a very expensive and elite brick will lose its sophistication if the color of the joints is faded or close in color to the brick.
Photo description: elite brick on mortar with low-quality pigment. After 5 years, the solution has lost more than half of its color.


And vice versa, even a cheap brick that does not hold its size well (an instance differs from the instance by several millimeters in thickness and length, the color has different shades and spots) will look very original and attractive due to the contrast seam, which will emphasize the texture of the brick and give the masonry more expensive look.
Photo description: brickwork on a black seam - cheap brick, mortar with high-quality pigment

One of the most common dyes for mortar is black pigment. It is made from industrial carbon. Depending on the amount of additives that allow the soot to be fixed in solution, both the quality of the pigment and its price will change. A high-quality pigment is not much more expensive, but its consumption decreases (approximately 1.5 - 2 times), and its coloring properties increase (only it must first be soaked in water and kneaded for at least 15 minutes). So the buyer will also save money ... such a paradox. In addition, the color of the solution will last much longer. If a solution with low-quality pigment loses its brightness after a few years, then a high-quality pigment will retain the color of the solution for many decades.

Photo description: front brickwork on a black seam with low-quality pigment and without pigment.

It is very easy to distinguish high-quality pigment. Pour 1 liter of pigment into a bucket of water, mix it with a rod for 20 seconds, and it will completely sink in water, while emitting a soft hiss. Poor quality pigment will partially float and after 2 minutes of thorough mixing.
Photo description: the same elite brick - on the left is a laying on a high-quality pigment, but with a small dose, on the right is a mortar without pigment.

The proportions required to obtain a bright black color for the solution: 1.5 liters of pigment x 1 bucket of cement (12 liters) and 3 - 4 buckets of quarry sand. This proportion is necessary for dark bricks. For white brick, you can reduce the amount of pigment to 0.75 - 1 liter.
Photo description: freshly built fence on a solution with high-quality pigment. The proportion of 0.75 liters of pigment per bucket of M-400 cement per 4 buckets of quarry sand.

It is important to note, too, that a quality pigment does not weaken the mortar, while a poor quality one requires more cement to achieve the desired grade. In the end, I would like to give a few more examples illustrating the brick front masonry and the results of choosing high-quality and low-quality components when mixing the mortar for a black joint.
Photo description: low-quality brick, but laying on mortar with a small dose of pigment.
Photo description: tiles imitating elite bricks. On the right - a contrasting pigment was used, on the left - a regular tile adhesive.
Photo description: elite brick, mortar with low-quality pigment after 3 years.
Photo description: elite brick. Red brick on mortar with a small dose of pigment, brown brick on mortar without pigment.

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Why change the color of the solution

The most popular is white masonry mortar, but sometimes it becomes necessary to change the color of the seam. Most often this happens for two reasons:

  • It is required to emphasize the expressiveness of the masonry. Light-colored brickwork on black mortar helps to highlight the seam with maximum contrast.
  • For masking masonry joints. Using the black color of the solution, you can completely hide the structure of the wall, which, after drying, looks monolithic or has a certain pattern.

How to prepare a black masonry mortar

The most common dye for the preparation of masonry mixture can be called a black pigment, which is made from industrial carbon black. To fix the pigment in the solution, various additives are used, the amount of which affects the quality of the pigment and its cost.

The amount of pigment may depend on the color of the masonry brick. To prepare a solution of saturated black color for masonry of dark bricks, it is necessary to take the components in the following proportions:

  • Cement - 1 bucket,
  • Sand - 3 buckets,
  • Pigment - 1.5 liters.

When laying white brick, the solution can be made less bright. For this, materials are taken in the following ratio:

  • Cement - 1 bucket,
  • Sand - 3 buckets,
  • Pigment - 0.75-1 liter.

The use of a high quality pigment contributes to the strengthening of the masonry mortar. Therefore, at present, they are trying to replace soot with complex iron salts.

Laying front bricks on a black seam can make the appearance of any building elite.

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Options for obtaining a white seam in brickwork

There are quite a few ways to get a white seam, the most common of which are:

  • Adding lime directly to the masonry mortar. But the mixture in this case is not completely snow-white, but closer to a light gray tint. Some experts argue that after heavy rains, lime streaks can form on the brick.
  • Use of special color tints for solutions. The result may not live up to expectations. Their use cannot 100% guarantee a snow-white shade, since the slightest inconsistency in the technology of their preparation leads to color distortion.
  • Use special white cement and quartz sand (also white) to prepare the masonry mortar. The process of laying bricks must be approached with the utmost responsibility - to exclude the slightest contamination of the building material with mortar and to remove its excess from the intermediate seams in time.

But it is best to purchase a white dry mix, designed specifically for grouting the exterior joints of brickwork.

Features of the mixture and grouting technique

Finished compositions are characterized by increased resistance to humidity, temperature changes and other negative natural phenomena. They do not fade under the influence of direct sunlight, quickly set and are an environmentally friendly material.

There are 2 grouting methods:

  1. Sunken - all seams are filled with the finished composition and the remains of the mixture are removed with the help of an arcuate device. When pulling, the tool should be located with an arc inside the seam.
  2. Convex - after filling the horizontal joints with a solution, the device is placed with an arc towards itself and pulled along the seam. Grouting of vertical grooves can only be started after the mixture has set in horizontal ones.

Grouting is carried out after the masonry mortar has completely dried. Before work, the seams must be abundantly moistened for better adhesion of the prepared composition with the dried solution.

White mortar for laying bricks is used to decorate suburban buildings. To give more expressiveness to the masonry, use different colors of the solution, not just white. For each type of brick, you can choose the right design. How to get a colored seam?

Colored seams look much better than regular gray, so they are often used to decorate the front sides of the house.

About the use of white and its importance

Despite the fact that the brickwork itself looks quite presentable, almost 15% of the brick wall will be occupied by stripes - the seams between the elements. The classic version of brickwork has a dark red color and a white seam that visually separates the elements from each other. Thanks to this combination of colors, the whole structure will be perceived in a completely different way - details, volume, shadows and texture of materials will be visible.

If you choose the wrong color for the seams, then the masonry will lose its appearance, become faded and inexpressive, the appearance of the building will fade. The seam over time, under the influence of external factors and the weather, will become gray, after which it will lose its attractiveness. The gray seam practically does not separate the elements, so the feeling of volume and expressiveness of forms disappear. This is how only 15% of the masonry area can affect the visual perception of the whole structure. It is worth remembering that attention to small details helps to improve the perception of many buildings.

Fortunately, you can avoid all these unwanted faded visual effects if you choose the right materials for creating a seam.

How to create a white seam?

If you want to spruce up your dark brick home with white grout, choose your additives very carefully. Also, the classic version of a pure white seam can be made using the following methods:

  1. The space between the bricks is rubbed with special grouts that give the material color. In this case, it will not be possible to create a snow-white-white seam.
  2. The brick structure is treated with special compounds that help the materials show color. The same composition has excellent protective performance and protects the wall from wear.
  3. When erecting a brick structure, a mortar with an appropriate shade of color, for example, white, is used. Jointing and contouring help to achieve the purity of the color of the joints in the brickwork.

In order for the solution to turn white, you need to add slaked lime.

White color helps to emphasize the volume and texture of the structure, thanks to it it is possible to highlight the details and individual elements of the wall, which is why it is used so often with red, orange and brown bricks.

You can get it in the following ways, using a standard masonry mortar:

  • add more slaked lime;
  • use nitric oxide in the composition;
  • get titanium oxide.

Unfortunately, each of the options is expensive in its own way.

Cooking tips

White masonry mortar for bricks can be created in many ways, but you will have to spend a lot of money on the components of the mortar. The highest quality white color gives titanium oxide in solution. The whiteness of such a mixture does not disappear for decades.

  1. To create a high quality white masonry mortar, two types of mortar will have to be mixed. The first will be on a cement-sand basis, and the second will be made on the basis of white M500 cement with dye additives (titanium oxide).
  2. When laying, both mixtures are used, but in a certain order.
  3. When laying bricks, the inner part is filled with the first mixture with sand, and the second is covered with the outer part of the brick. The quality of construction is not lost, but the appearance changes.

The adhesion of materials will not allow one type of solution to exfoliate from another until it dries completely. In addition, if the house is made of dark brick, various traces of dye will not be visible on it, which happens in some cases if the wrong component is added to the mixture, since the mortar will not flow.

Mixing the mortar

Tools for the preparation of cement mortar.

You will need for the solution:

Do not try to make a solution right away, because for sure nothing will work. Mix testers in small containers to check the final color.

The composition of the mixture will be with the following proportions: cement to sand 1: 3. In this case, the dye should be no more than 10% of the amount of cement. Sand should be clean, river, medium size. We mix all the ingredients in a dry form, and then gradually add warm water to get the desired consistency. We leave to stand for a while, then mix it, and you can start laying.

Another option is to stir the dye separately in water until the fine particles dissolve in the liquid. Then, little by little, the components of the mixture are poured into one container: half of the cement, 1/3 of the sand, and the rest is the dye.

For cement grade M100, the amount of dye in the solution should be no more than 1/10, and in M75 and below - no more than 1/12.

Conclusion

If you want to decorate your red brick house, apply the technology of grouting with colored mortar.

This is one of the most economical options for updating the look of brickwork. In this case, the solution can change its color depending on the environmental conditions, which means that the appearance of the wall will change along with the temperature around.

The most reliable way to give your brick country house visual appeal for a long time is to lay bricks on a colored mortar. Methods for preparing the mixture have been described, it remains only to put the knowledge into practice.

Mortar for facing bricks

A solution of various colors for facing a brick wall is the latest development offered on the construction market, which is very popular. What is the secret of this solution and how to use it will tell the article.

Colored material for brickwork is a unique building material used in the decoration of the facades of brick buildings. The color of the solution can be matched to the tone of the facing material.

It gives originality to the whole building and distinguishes it from other houses by the fact that no seams are visible on it at all.

The composition of the solution and its varieties

Mortars are a special fine-grained mixture consisting of pure water, inorganic substances and special fine aggregates. This material is used in the process of repair, internal and external finishing works during the laying of brick walls.

Mortars are divided into several main types:

  • air - the main components are fine special aggregate and a special binder air mixture;
  • waterproofing - white cement with an admixture of ferric chloride, ceresite and sodium aluminate;
  • ceresite - a white solution, which contains ammonia, lime and amyl acid;
  • masonry - consist of either cement with lime or cement with clay;
  • acoustic - incorporate gypsum, white cement, lime and fine aggregate.

The main component of the masonry colored mortar is white cement, to which various mineral dyes are added in a certain amount, due to the saturation of the desired color.

The proportion of dye in the mixture can be 1-8%. A higher percentage content is not recommended. Also among the components of the solution are polymer additives that provide stability, resistance to moisture absorption and strength of the composition, washed sand and persistent chemical mineral pigments that prevent the formation of efflorescence on the wall surface.

Sometimes, in order to improve the formulation of the color mixture, manufacturers add various additional components to their composition, which increase the adhesive characteristics of the building composition, its plasticity and durability, giving it good moisture retention properties and reducing the consumption rate. material. White cement in the composition of the solution helps to achieve a pure color.

The range of application of the composition in construction is quite wide: finishing internal and external walls with the help of facing material, plastering surfaces, finishing fireplaces. The use of color composition gives a special charm to the whole house and the room inside.

The strength of the masonry is created due to the durability of the components of its masonry elements, including the strength of the masonry composition.

Mortar Benefits

Like any other material, painted masonry mortar has its advantages over concrete:

  • dries quickly enough - within 3 hours;
  • the color and concentration of the solution can be chosen as desired;
  • the surface of the solution is not covered with efflorescence;
  • affordable price.

Also, this solution has several positive properties:

  • after complete drying, the colored material has good strength, and well protects the wall from all kinds of damage;
  • the seams look very neat, minor wall defects are smoothed out, the surface takes on a finished look;
  • this masonry has durability, since the colored building material is characterized by high bonding strength with brick;
  • the solution is not afraid of moisture and frost;
  • is an environmentally friendly building material;
  • does not fade in the sun;
  • does not leave marks after contact with the surface of the finishing material (if removed in time).

Special manufacturing technology greatly facilitates construction work:

  • in one working cycle, you can perform both masonry and joint grout;
  • high plasticity of the building material provides a fairly easy and fast masonry process;
  • during laying, the brick does not need pre-wetting, due to the high humidity of the solution;
  • durable masonry without cracks is ensured as a result of strong adhesion to the stone;
  • the right color of masonry mortar and grout helps to avoid unpleasant surprises in the form of fading, wetting and leaching, ensuring durability and external beauty throughout the house.

How to choose

When choosing a color mixture for a masonry color mortar, it is very important to pay attention to certain nuances that will help you acquire high-quality material and avoid many troubles.

During the acquisition of building materials, it is worth paying attention to the degree of moisture absorption of the brick. Different types of bricks differ in this indicator, which varies from 2% to 15%.

Fresh masonry from different types of brick absorbs water in different ways. In the event that the mortar acquires strength too slowly or too quickly, then the properties of the masonry deteriorate significantly. To prevent this from happening, the construction market offers masonry mortars with different moisture retention rates: low - 5-6% range, medium - 7-10%, high - 10-15%. The compositions of the first group are well suited for clinker bricks, the second - used when working with facing bricks, the third - for silicate bricks. Some companies also produce a color composition for summer and winter masonry.

When choosing a color masonry mixture, you need to decide on the desired color. Domestic companies offer a large selection of shades (about 35 colors). Foreign manufacturers produce about 50 colors. Sometimes, when ordering, the company can create an individual shade that is not in the catalog, especially for the customer.

The most popular shades of solutions are: white, beige, yellow, brown in various shades, terracotta, red, green in light shades, pink, gray and black.

The experience of the masters shows that the ocher laying mortar goes well with yellow brick, chocolate - with red, white - with gray. For the correct choice of the color of the solution, it is best to consult a specialist, since the beauty and color of the wall is half dependent on the seams.

There are two ways to choose a color:

  1. Determine the shade based on the color of the brick. In this case, the seams will be invisible, and the wall itself will look monolithic.
  2. It's great to play in contrast. In this situation, there is a great opportunity to express the texture and color of the material, to create harmony in the color of wall and door cladding, to finish any architectural elements and roofing.

The thickness and type of the masonry joint also affect the choice of shade, as occupying 15-20% of the area of ​​the entire wall, the joints can completely change the appearance of the house.

A multi-colored masonry compound may have the "Versatility" characteristic, which is an indication that this compound can be used for interior and exterior for all types of bricks, artificial stone, etc.

How to cook

It is not at all difficult to prepare a laying mortar, but the process has some nuances, so you need to carefully read the instructions before work.

For better mixing, you can use a conventional concrete mixer. If she's not there you can prepare the solution manually or using an electric drill with a special whisk attachment. To mix the material, pour clean water into a container (per 1 kg of the mixture 120-250 ml), add the powder and mix well until the consistency of sour cream. Now it should be left to rest for 5-7 minutes, so that all color additives dissolve well and mix again. Now you can get to work.

Do not forget that in the cold season, the dry mixture must be diluted with warm water, and also that the composition hardens rather quickly (about 3 hours). When the composition begins to lose plasticity and solidify, it is absolutely impossible to add water to the composition. The only way to revive the material is by mixing. After 3 hours, the solution cannot be used.

When the next portion of the masonry mortar is needed, the mixture must be diluted in the same proportions, otherwise the color of the mortar will not match.

When using a multi-colored masonry mortar for the first time, experts advise applying it to an inconspicuous area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe masonry in order to determine the color and its saturation. If you do not like the shade, you can add water or a dry mixture. The proportions of water must be strictly observed: if the solution is too dry, it will crack, and if it is very liquid, it will be squeezed out of the seams.

Without a doubt, such a composition can be prepared independently by mixing white cement and the desired dye. But, due to the fact that a lot of masonry mortar is required, it is very difficult to choose exactly the same shade in a new batch. Therefore, it is better not to take risks and use a ready-made mixture.

The prepared masonry composition must be used immediately. It is applied in an even layer on the entire surface of the brick block, making sure that gaps and voids do not form.

How to lay facing brick

After the erection of the walls and their insulation, you can start laying the facing bricks. The mortar should be applied in a small layer 1.5-2 cm thick, not reaching the edge of about 1 cm. When using this type of mortar, it is necessary that the thickness of the joints be the same. For this, a square rail with a side of 8 mm and a length of 1 m is used. With the help of it, a seam gap is laid on the brick, then a row of bricks is laid, according to the size of the rail. For vertical seams, you can use another rail of shorter length.

Facing is better to start from the corner, 5-6 rows high, and already equalize the rest of the bricks along them. During masonry, immediately remove the protruding mortar from the surface.

The color composition is applied to the brick block using a special steel spatula, taking into account the thickness of the seam of 10-20 mm. Masonry is carried out along a full seam with further processing of this surface with a special stitching tool. On the front side, the seams are processed directly during masonry work. If a light-colored solution is used, then to prevent the solution from oxidizing from interaction with the metal, it is best to use a special wooden or plastic embroidery tool.

The use of modern colored masonry mortars will give the house a certain uniqueness and charm and increase its durability.

Facial brickwork remains, in a way, a classic of the genre when facing buildings, despite the fact that today there are more and more new construction technologies and giving a beautiful look to construction objects: siding, various plaster and putty mixtures, aluminum plates, metal profiles and much more. Although brickwork is one of the most expensive types of construction, at the same time it is one of the most durable. Having once invested money in construction, you can save yourself for many decades from having to think about how to preserve the beauty of a building or structure in the event of strong gusty winds, hail, accidental impacts with solid objects and other unforeseen events. Photo description: brick front masonry on a black seam - white brick on mortar with good quality pigment. The proportion is 0.75 liters of pigment per 1 bucket of M-400 cement and 4 buckets of sand. More than 10 years have passed since the construction.

If you decide that such an expensive cladding of the building will be carried out, then it will not be superfluous to think over the options that will give an elite look to your building. Something as small as the color of a brickwork seam can play a significant role in this regard. Even a very expensive and elite brick will lose its sophistication if the color of the joints is faded or close in color to the brick.
Photo description: elite brick on mortar with low-quality pigment. After 5 years, the solution has lost more than half of its color.

And vice versa, even a cheap brick that does not hold its size well (an instance differs from the instance by several millimeters in thickness and length, the color has different shades and spots) will look very original and attractive due to the contrast seam, which will emphasize the texture of the brick and give the masonry more expensive look.
Photo description: brickwork on a black seam - cheap brick, mortar with high-quality pigment

One of the most common dyes for mortar is black pigment. It is made from industrial carbon. Depending on the amount of additives that allow the soot to be fixed in solution, both the quality of the pigment and its price will change. A high-quality pigment is not much more expensive, but its consumption decreases (approximately 1.5 - 2 times), and its coloring properties increase (only it must first be soaked in water and kneaded for at least 15 minutes). So the buyer will also save money ... such a paradox. In addition, the color of the solution will last much longer. If a solution with low-quality pigment loses its brightness after a few years, then a high-quality pigment will retain the color of the solution for many decades.
Photo description: front brickwork on a black seam with low-quality pigment and without pigment.

It is very easy to distinguish high-quality pigment. Pour 1 liter of pigment into a bucket of water, mix it with a rod for 20 seconds, and it will completely sink in water, while emitting a soft hiss. Poor quality pigment will partially float and after 2 minutes of thorough mixing.
Photo description: the same elite brick - on the left is a laying on a high-quality pigment, but with a small dose, on the right is a mortar without pigment.

The proportions required to obtain a bright black color for the solution: 1.5 liters of pigment x 1 bucket of cement (12 liters) and 3 - 4 buckets of quarry sand. This proportion is necessary for dark bricks. For white brick, you can reduce the amount of pigment to 0.75 - 1 liter.
Photo description: freshly built fence on a solution with high-quality pigment. The proportion of 0.75 liters of pigment per bucket of M-400 cement per 4 buckets of quarry sand.

It is important to note, too, that a quality pigment does not weaken the mortar, while a poor quality one requires more cement to achieve the desired grade. In the end, I would like to give a few more examples illustrating the brick front masonry and the results of choosing high-quality and low-quality components when mixing the mortar for a black joint.
Photo description: low-quality brick, but laying on mortar with a small dose of pigment.
Photo description: tiles imitating elite bricks. On the right - a contrasting pigment was used, on the left - a regular tile adhesive.
Photo description: elite brick, mortar with low-quality pigment after 3 years.
Photo description: elite brick. Red brick on mortar with a small dose of pigment, brown brick on mortar without pigment.

When building a brick building with your own hands, experts recommend not to forget about some points. The main ones are the aesthetic appearance of the building and protection from atmospheric precipitation. Finishing the building includes certain types of work. One of the most acceptable is the jointing of brickwork.

Standard brickwork has seams located horizontally and vertically. The technological process of grouting is the filling of joints with mortar, which is designed to bind the bricks together. After dressing, the mortar that protruded beyond the boundaries of the brickwork was removed. After that, proceed to the embroidery of the seams with your own hands.

The jointing process is a grouting operation that is performed in order to increase the tightness of the brickwork.

Grouting allows you to decorate the facades of the building, as well as the surface of the walls after such procedures becomes resistant to the aggressive action of the environment. As a result of this, it is safe to say that grouting brickwork increases the life of the building.

Before starting work on jointing, you need to get acquainted with the basic methods of sealing seams. Often you can find the following types of stitching:


When making the jointing, it is necessary to adhere to the recommended sequence of work. First of all, seams that are located vertically should be processed, and then horizontal ones.

According to the norms specified in the SNIP, the thickness of the horizontal seam should be 10-15 mm, and the vertical one - 8-15 mm. In order to save money, it is allowed to make thin seams, the thickness of which may be lower than the norm recommended by SNIP. Also, the value of these indicators may vary depending on climatic conditions.

  1. It is not necessary to produce jointing on hot days, as the solution quickly hardens. This is a violation of the technological process.
  2. It is not advisable to do the jointing during rain, as the solution absorbs excess moisture.
  3. It is recommended to knead the solution in small portions using an electric concrete mixer.
  4. It is impossible to apply a liquid or dried grout mixture to the expansion joint. This may compromise its integrity.

The purpose of the stitching

The grout is designed to:

  • improve the appearance of the building. This type of decorative design of the building well masks the difference in color shades, which are obtained due to the fact that the solution is kneaded in stages over several days;
  • protect the cement base from destruction. This will significantly increase the life of the structure and postpone the timing of the overhaul. The main reason for the destruction of the cement base is the ingress of moisture;
  • increase the thermal insulation properties of brickwork, which will keep the heat indoors in winter. To do this, it is necessary to carry out all the work with your own hands in accordance with the rules and regulations.

Application features

The basic rule is as follows: the surface of the walls that will be finished in advance cannot be plastered. This is due to the fact that the grout acts as a kind of finishing material, which must be applied to a separate part of the wall.

Most often, grout is used for exterior finishing work.

This method can be used for interior decoration in cases where it is necessary to give the surface a certain color.

It is possible to produce bricklaying at any stage of the construction of the building. The most suitable for these works is the stage of building walls, since it is easier to remove excess mortar.

When jointing the brickwork of an old building, it is necessary to remove the old mortar to a depth of 10–15 mm.

To increase the strength of the structure, it is necessary to use the dressing of the seams of the brickwork at the stage of building the building. Ligation is a laying of bricks with a certain offset.

For work it is necessary to use only well-sharpened construction tools. This is done in order not to damage the building materials.

Grout technology

The technological process can be conditionally divided into the following stages:

  1. Works on the preparation of brickwork. At this stage, the surface of the walls is cleaned from dirt and dust. Further, with the help of a brush with a hard bristle, a final cleaning is carried out. After that, the surface to be treated is first moistened with water.
  2. Solution preparation. An important condition is that the solution must be of a homogeneous consistency without lumps.
  3. Make stitching. To do this, it is necessary to make a recess in the old solution by 10-15 mm. Use a hard-bristled brush for a final cleaning. After that, you can apply the solution.
  4. Using jointing, it is necessary to press the solution into vertically located seams. This technique will get rid of excess air.
  5. Finish the horizontal gaps using a long joint. In the process of this work, the solution is evenly distributed throughout the seam.
  6. Give the newly laid mortar a shape. To do this, you can use improvised materials, such as a plastic tube, rubber hose, a wooden plank or a sharpened wooden peg.